Ratchet bit-brace



J. E. MEED.

RATCHET BIT BRACE.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 22, 1919.

Patented 00a 26,1920.

1 v I I 1.

WITNESS:

I INVENTOR:

(fdiiZJ'lZ/Vfif y I a CL ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcng JAMES E. MEED, on PALESTINE, wEsr vrnemrn.

RATQHET BIT-BRACE.

' V Specification of Letters Patent. Patefited Oct, 26, 1920.

Application filed September 22, .1919. Serial No. 325,381.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES citizen of the United States, residing at Palestine, in the county of VVirt and State of lVest Virginia, have invented new and ing therefor which admits of the convenient assemblage of the parts and their disassemblage for cleaning, repairs or renewal of worn or defective parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clutch mechanism which is positive in action and in which the pawls and ratchet wheel are adapted to afford long service before their renewal is required. i

A still further object of the invention is to provide a driving crank which is adjustable to vary its effective radius or leverage as occasion may require.

A still further object of the invention is. to provide means for properly locking and centering the parts of the adjustable crank. With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ratchet bit brace embodying my invention, with parts in section and parts of the tool carrying member omitted.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the tool carrying head and casing and parts of the ratchet mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the slidin pawls. I

Tig. 4 is a cross-section on line 4 4 of Fi 1 on an enlarged scale.

11 carrying my invention into practice I provide an oscillator or rotary tool carrier 1. This may be of any preferred form E. MEED, a

and construction, and provided with any preferred type of adjustable jaws. In prac tice, the tool carrying member, the frame only of which is shown, may be provided with suitable guides to receive jawswhich are adapted to expand unde r spring pres sure and are threaded for engagement with an adjusting sleeve, whereby they may be moved inwardly and outwardly, the grooves in the frame member permitting the jaws to spread, on their outward movement and causing them to contract or move together on ,their inward movement. I have not shown the specific construction of the jaws' and their adjusting "means, as they may: be

of any conventional type and constitute no' part of the present invention. The tool carrying member carrier head and ratchetmechanism casing 3. This head or casing 3 preferably consists of a. casing having a'vertical arm 4 and ahorizontal arm,5. The outer end of the horizontal arm 5 isbifurcated to form; a chamber 6 and the arm 4: is connected: with the lower wall of this chamberfland' provided with a bore 7 inwhich the shaft 2 is journaled, while'the upper wall of the bifurcation is formed with an opening 8 receiving the "upper end of a reducedstem 9 integral with the shaft 2, said stem being provided with a threaded socket to receive a retaining screw. 10, whereby the parts named are detachably heldin roperly related position. sleeve or co lar 11 surrounds the shaft 2 and abuts against a removable washer 11 disposed between said sleeve and the base of the arm 4, said sleeve being secured in position by a set screw or other suitable fastening 12, This sleeve assists in holding the tool carrier from upward movement'and may also form a stop to hold in position, the internally threaded rotary adjusting sleeve (not shown) through the action of the threads of which the jaws of the tool'are adjusted, as is common" in devices of this character. 7 The washer 11' sustains the wear and reduces the friction between the working parts described and being removable, may be detached when worn and another substituted in its place, with resultant economy. A I

The horizontalarm 5 of the head 3 may form an integral part of the lower arm 13' of a driving crank of generally ordinary 1 includes a shaft 2 supported by a right-angled tool form but of novel construction, said crank embodying the lower arm 13, above referred to, an upper arm 14% and ahandle 15, the arm 14' carrying the usual swiveled head 16 and the handle 15 the usual rotary grip 17. These parts are constructed and com: bined in a novel manner so that the length of the crank and its radius or leverage may be varied, as will be fully hereinafter described.

The chamber 6 has arranged therein a ratchet wheel 18 which surrounds the stem 9andis fixed thereto by a set screw or other convenient application and removal of the 26 1s ofgenerally simllar construction, comratchet wheel. The ratchet wheel is adapted for coeperation with a. pair of superposed pawls 25 and 26 arranged in a chamber 27 formed in the arm 5, which chamber communicates through a guide slot 28 in,

the chamber 6. Eachof these pawls 25 and prising agenerally rectangular or oblong rectangular block or plate provided at its forward end with a reduced tooth beveled on one side, the dog 25 having thetooth 25 beveled on its right hand side, which teeth project through the slot 28 for cooperation with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. A web 29 projects from the arm 3 forwardly into the chamber 27 V and subdivides the same into upper and lower pawl receiving spaces, said web forming a guide which spaces the pawls fromeach other but maintains them in proper relationship. Projecting rearwardly from each pawl is a stud or pin 36 movable in a guide recess or socket 31 in the arm 13 and surrounded by. a coiled spring 32. The pawls 2,5 and .26 are slidably mounted for backward-and forward adjustment into and out of engagement with the "ratchetwheel' and are adapted to move for ward by the springs and to recede against the resistance of said springs. V V

Surrounding. the arm 5Yis a rotary and sliding nawl controller 33, designed to change the direction of movement ofthe ratchet mechanism from clock-wise to anticlock-wise or vice versa when so operated, the same comprising a ring or sleeve limited in its forward movement by a stop shoulder 34, and having a limited degree of rearward sliding movement governed'by a stop shoulder 35 adapted to engage the rear wall of the chamber-'27. The pawls '25 and 26 are respectively provided in their upper and lower edges with grooves 36, and the controller ring or sleeve 33 is provided with an internal spiral rib 37 engageable with said grooves whereby the two pawls may be simultaneously releasedfor a locking action, as hereinafter described, or may be simultaneously and alternately adjusted into and out of ratchet wheel engaging position. The spiral rib extends partially around the controller ring, to a degree somewhat less than one-half the circumference of said ring, so that when the ring is in normal or neutral position thering will be out of engagement with the grooves 36, allowing both pawls 25 and 26 to be moved forward by their springs into ratchet wheel engaging position, as shown in Fig. 1. On the other hand by rotating the ring a certain degree from a neutral position in one direction, the rib will engage the groove 36 of one pawl, and such pawl will be retracted or moved rearwardly leaving the other pawl free for action, while on rotatingthe ring to a like degree in the oppositedirection,

rearwardly to an inoperative position and locked in such position to the ring 33, while the dog 26 will be left free for the ratchet action, and on the contrarywhen the ring u is turned to the left or in the opposite direction, the dog 26 will be retracted and the dog 25 left free for a ratchet'action, as will be readily understood. It will therefore be seen that when either dog is free for operation it will be permitted to be moved forward by its spring to engage a tooth in the ratchet wheel and to slide rearwardly by pressure on its beveled face for disengagement from said toothand for subsequent movement into engagement with theQneXt tooth of the ratchet wheel, while the other pawl or dog remains idle and locked in retracted position tothe ring. 7

Mounted upon the arm 13 is 'a locking and releasing sleeve 38 having a threaded connection with said arm, as indicated at 39, said sleeve being limited in its forward movement on the arm by a stop flange or shoulder 40. When the dogs are free from engagement with the rib 37 it will be understood that vboth dogs will be projected by their springs into engagement with the ratchet wheel, thus locking the ratchet wheel against movement in either direction, whereby the tool carrying member 1 will be fixedto the driving crank for rotation so as to make the connection absolutely rigid and prevent play of the parts or lost motion when the ratchet mechanism is. not

isadjusted, if not already adjusted, to release both pawls to permit them to be moved into engagement with the ratchet wheel by their springs 32 and'the sleeve 38 is then rotated forwardly until it engages the flange 40. Said sleeve 38 will thus be brought to bear at its forward edge against the rear edges of the dogs 25 and 26, thus locking the dogs in rigid engagement with the ratchet wheel so that no play or lost motion can'occur'in a direct driving action. l/Vhen the sleeve 38'is turned backwardly or retracted, both dogs will be freed for sliding movement and the sleeve 33-will also bev freed for adjustment to throw either dog into action and hold the other retracted. Accordingly it will be understood that through adjustment of the sleeve 33, when the sleeve 38 is retracted, either dog may be adj ustedto cooperate with the ratchet wheel for turning the tool carrying member to the right or left on the oscillation of the driving crank.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that as the ratchet wheel 18 is disconnectible from the tool carrying member, the wheel may be removed and a new one substituted in its place whenever the teeth thereof become worn to a degree requiring its replacement, but that, owing to the form and size of the ratchet wheel, teeth or recesses affording a large extent of rear surface may be provided so that the ratchet wheel will last a long period and will require replacement only at very long intervals It will be observed that the dogs are arranged in vertical alinement with each other, and in longitudinal alinementv with the axis of the Wheel and the crank driving arms, thus insuring certainty of operation in the ratchet driving action, as well as the firm and positive rigid engagement between the dogs and ratchet wheel when said dogs and ratchet wheel are rigidly locked together. A type of ratchet mechanism. is thus provided which is more positive and certain in action and is subject to less wear and tear than ratchet devices which engage the ratchet wheel, off center, thus increasing the efficiency and durability of the tool. It is also evident that in the use of the sleeve 38 as when the same is'moved into contact with the pawls 25v and 26, a rigid connection is established between the parts of thebrace such as approximates that of the ordinary type of brace from which the ratchet is eliminated. This sleeve is preferably to be used for the purpose, as described, only 7 when the ratchet mechanism is not to be brought into play for a relatively long period of time, so as to eliminate any possible or undue wear and tear on, or displacement of, the pawls and springs, as might otherwise occur, particularly, after long and hard usage of the device. The sleeve 38 is only operable in the manner aforesaid, when ment with the pawls 25 and 26.

The arms 13 and 14 are hollow to form tubular portions which telescopically receive arms 13. and14 integral with the handle 15, thus enabling the handle to be adjusted toregulate the length of'the driving crank and consequently its swing or radius of action "and its driving leverage. Each arm 13 and 14 is provided :with a series of locking recesses 41 for locking engagement with a spring actuated detent 42 on the arm 13'or 14, as the case may be, to lock the parts against longitudinal movement. The recesses 41 'may be set 'at certain distances apart to permit of accurate predetermined adjustments. Each arm 13' and 14 isalso provided with means for holding it against rotation in the tubular portion of the arm 13 or 14 engaged thereby, such means shown in the present instance consisting of one or more ribs 43 thereon engaging a longitudinal groove or grooves 44 in the tubular por tion of the arm 13 or 14 in which it fits. These ribs and grooves also provide a means for indicating positively the positions in which the parts 13 should be inserted in order to bring the recesses 41 into alinement with the detents 42 for a locking action, and to insure proper seating of the arms 13 and 14- in vertical alinement with each other. Each arm 13 and 14' is preferably provided with a beveled end portion 45, which is longitudinally slit, as indicated at 46, dividing 1.00 it into a plurality of spring fingers adapted for wedging engagement with the arms 13 and 14'. At their inner extremities each beveled end is externally threaded to receive the internally threaded inner end of a 105 clamping collar'or sleeve 47, which is inter nally beveled for an obvious pur ose. The tapered end of each arm may e formed with annular grooves 48' to diminish the amount of the surface engaged by the beveled sleeve and thus diminish friction, allowing the beveled sleeve to be easily and conveniently adjusted for a clamping or releasing action. By the described construc tion a firm locking engagement between the 'for wheel engaging movement, and means 130 3 described my invention, e

vice for simultaneously engaging andprofor locking the freed dogs rigidly in engagement With the ratchet Wheel.

2. In a ratchet bit brace, a tool carrying member, a driving crank, a ratchet Wheel on the tool carrying member, a pair of spring actuated reversely acting dogs to engage the ratchet Wheel, a rotary and sliding ring having means for simultaneously engaging and projecting one dog and retracting the other or for freeing both dogs for Wheel engaging movement, and a rotary locking sleeve adjustable to release the dogs and ring for individual action or to lock thedogs and ring rigidly from movement in Wheel engaging position.

, 3. In a ratchet bit brace, the combination of a tool carrying 'member, a driving crank,

v a ratchet Wheel on the tool carrying memher, a pair, of spring actuated reversely acting dogs to engage the ratchet Wheel, a dejecting one dog and retractingthe other or for freeing both dogs for Wheel engaging movement, and means forlocking the freedratchet wheel, a rotary and sliding ring havmg a cam engagement W th the dogs for simultaneously projecting one and retracting the other or freeing both dogs for Wheel engaging movement, and a rotary locking sleeve o'n'the crank adjustable to release the 7 dogs and ring for individual action or to lock the dogs and ring rigidly frommovement in Wheel engaging positlon.

In testlmony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES E. MEED.

'30 mg spring actuated dogs to engage the 

